Next week, Premier Helen Zille and MEC Alan Winde will officially launch WiFi hotspots linking 50 000 Western Cape residents to public internet. This forms part of the Western Cape Government’s R1.3 billion broadband rollout plan. The hotspot launches taking place next week are in Atlantis, George and Robertson. The Delft hotspot will be launched in October.
MEC Winde will launch the first hotspot in George on Monday. Premier Zille and MEC Winde will launch the Atlantis hotspot later that week. The Robertson launch takes place on Friday, 29 August.
In November last year, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism opened the call for proposals for non-profit organisations to access grant funding to set up free Wi-Fi zones. MEC Winde said the models used by the different NPOs become the test cases the Western Cape Government will consider going forward.
“We will assess what model works best, so we can eventually deploy WiFi hotspots to the Western Cape. In Delft, we are already seeing how access to affordable internet is improving education outcomes. Our goal is that every resident in this province will have access to affordable internet, which will connect them with employment and education opportunities. This is a major asset for communities and I look forward to seeing the real benefits of connectivity in terms of growth and job creation,” said MEC Winde.
Details:
George Launch
Date: Monday, 25 August 2014
Time: 9h30 - 11h30
Venue: Touwsranten Community Centre (Corner of Bester Street and Hoekwil Road, Touwsranten)
Atlantis Launch
Date: Wednesday, 27 August 2014
Time: 9h30 – 12h00
Venue: Atlantis Secondary School, Avondale Road, Atlantis
Robertson Launch
Date: 29 August 2014
Time: 11h30 – 12h30
Venue: Langeberg Secondary School, George Street, Robertson
RSVP:
Bronwynne Jooste
Spokesperson for MEC Alan Winde
Cell: 082 454 4365
Tel: 021 483 3550
Email: bronwynne.jooste@westerncape.gov.za
